But as you abound in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us – see that you abound in this grace also. (9) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (13) For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; (14) but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack – that there may be equality. (15) As it is written “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

2 Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul. He was writing to the Corinthians in chapter 8 and 9 about the financial collection for famine struck believers in Jerusalem. This collection for the church in Jerusalem took a great deal of Paul’s time and attention and was a practical act of service. It is a great theological statement regarding the grace of God and the example of Christ Jesus. Paul invoked no legalistic requirements – believers have been forgiven by grace and should respond by generous giving in gratitude – any compulsion to do so would be contrary to the gospel of grace. Giving should be done without demand or expectation of return.

The Gentile churches owed a spiritual debt to the Jewish church. Gentiles were not compelled to keep Jewish law resulting in a great deal of tension between Gentile churches and the Jewish church in Jerusalem. Paul had written in 1 Corinthians advising them this collection was not unique to Corinth and was purely voluntary – there was no appeal to the Jewish tithing laws of the Old Testament. The collection was to be a statement of unity and diversity of the church. Giving was fellowship; ministry/service and Paul’s most frequent description, an “act of grace”; a blessing and divine service that should be voluntary and bountiful.

Jewish Christians in the early church suffered loss of income and were objects of persecution – they were ostracized from the Jewish community with the subsequent loss of economic benefits. The church in unity was the approach of Paul for this message – how we are to handle material blessings. The Lord’s example spiritually is the ultimate example of grace giving.